Letters to the Editor: It's time to reset the clock on the Troubles
Good Bertie Picture: Chung/pa Then Blair British Ahern Dan 1998 Agreement Signing Prime Friday And The File Minister Taoiseach In Tony
The publication of the Report by the Commission for Victims and Survivors (CVSNI) this week, which reveals that 8% of the population of Britain identify as victims of the Irish Troubles, is a badly needed reminder of how insidious and protracted the legacy of the Irish Troubles has been for everyone living on these islands.
It is also a reminder that the Belfast Good Friday Agreement was not, as it is often portrayed, a ‘peace’ agreement but rather a truce that gave political leaders the space to seek alternatives that would lay the ghosts that still regularly foment conflict here, and across the Irish Sea.
One of the positive findings of the report, commissioned by Andrew Sloan on behalf of the CVSNI, is that 80% of respondents in Britain believe the conflict should be included in the curriculum for British secondary school students.
Indeed, we believe that there should be a joint curriculum agreed for all secondary school students on these islands.
Another positive finding to emerge from the survey is respondents believe the British, Irish, and Northern Ireland governments should develop a joint strategy for addressing the long-running sore that is the legacy wars.
With a new Taoiseach in Dublin, the imminent election of a new prime minister in London who has pledged to repeal the Legacy Act, and a new team of first minster and deputy first minister in Belfast, surely the time has arrived to reset the clock and find a joint way forward?
This is something that not alone people in Britain clearly want, but ourselves as well.
We would urge everyone interested in solving our past differences and facilitating a better future to read this report.
One word I think sums up the outcome of the European elections: division. At a time when we are faced with an existential environmental crisis and increasing global conflict, this outcome in Europe doesn’t bode well.
It doesn’t help that politicians generally have long given up trying to do what’s best for society based on objective data and an egalitarian outlook. Instead it’s the tail of the misinformed and agitated public wagging the political dog.
Meanwhile, an unregulated social media has whipped up tension with divisive rhetoric. It’s unsatiable desire for revenue-generating clickbait, driving a race to the political bottom.
To add fuel to the fire we face a US election that is devoid of any coherent debate on policy, instead it has become a poisonous culture war with the prospect of a convicted felon in the Oval Office.
The Gaza conflict has exposed the fallacy of unity around international law, with the US position laid bare as hypocritical and hollow.
The UN and its structures continue to be impotent in the face of a dysfunctional Security Council long due significant reform.
Where is the leadership to come from that could snap us out of this slow march to the cliff edge?
We need a new politics, one based on empathy and equality, not pandering to greed, that looks to build sustainable societies. We’ve been here before with the divisive politics of hate, it doesn’t end well.
I totally agree with Willie Wyse (‘Cork taxi driver risks losing licence for failure to accept card payments’, Irish Examiner, June 11).
I’m a taxi driver in Dublin and I believe we should have choice like every other business.
We’re the only industry forced to comply with these laws.
Totally in breach of our constitution rights if Willie loses his licence.
In the context of the ongoing forensic election analysis as to why the government parties did remarkably well while the main opposition party faded, it seems to me that sight has been lost of how competently the current coalition dealt with the unprecedented challenges of covid-19 and Brexit, either of which bore calamitous potential.
It may not all be about current demands and future needs, the electorate seems to have cast an eye in the rear view mirror at to the polls.
I believe we should not fear the bogeymen of the far right but more the inertia of the bloated middle classes.
The Government supported by its comfortable centre right constituents have failed to come to terms with the reason behind the perception of a far-right swing.
There is little or no real far-right movement in Ireland, there is just a very understandable reaction to a crisis in which the Government seems to be impotent.
My father said to me many years ago he could never understand an Irishman being racist when we had suffered so much racism ourselves.
Both my parents left from different Irish counties to find work in London after the war.
Both went on a Sunday and started work on a Monday.
Neither expected nor received handouts and they certainly never expected to be housed and given government benefits.
The sudden explosion of what seems to be an army of of able-bodied men of working age, many who have travelled from England to avoid deportation is a natural concern and we need a fair but very decisive way to deal with this.
We need migration to Ireland, we have a shortage of workers.
As a shopkeeper myself I see how hard it is to get staff, but we also need to ensure that the people arriving to find a better life and are here to work and to contribute to the betterment of our communities.
The Government and the media need to stop portraying the protesters at proposed accommodation centres as far right. They are not.
Most are concerned members of small communities that rightly should have a say in major change to the demographic of their residential areas.
The thugs who burn the centres and incite violence or intimidation of asylum seekers, they are perhaps what we call far right and they need to feel the full weight of the law.
This vocal and violent minority will use the asylum seekers as their punch bag and will jump on any bandwagon to vent their anger at the world.
They cannot and should not be seen as representative of our community, no more than the National Front or the Nazi movement should be representative of our European neighbours.
If we find a fair way to deal with the current crisis the boogeyman of the far right will once again be confined to the shadows of Irish society.
In light of the recent elections and the commentary surrounding Sinn Féin’s performance, it is essential to address the narrative of a “collapse” in their vote.
The mainstream media, including pundits and broadcasters on RTÉ and Virgin Media, have repeatedly labelled the outcome as a significant decline.
This portrayal, while reflecting some truth, needs a more nuanced analysis.
The same pundits who now critique Sinn Féin’s performance were the ones projecting their support at around 30%.
Such projections have evidently not materialised, leading to claims of underperformance.
However, it is crucial to remember that Sinn Féin has actually increased its number of council seats compared to the 2019 elections.
This incremental gain, albeit modest, signals progress rather than collapse.
The comparison to the 2019 results, followed by the significant surge in the 2020 general election, suggests a similar rebound is possible.
Furthermore, we must consider the broader political landscape.
The rumblings within Sinn Féin calling for leadership changes are premature and potentially detrimental.
Changing leadership now would only serve to benefit the government parties, who would likely welcome the disruption of their primary opposition in the Dáil and in the airwaves.
Also worth noting is any recent governmental improvements have largely resulted from the pressure exerted by Sinn Féin’s vigorous opposition.
One critical factor in this election was the emergence of Independents and smaller parties leveraging immigration issues.
Sinn Féin must now focus on clearly articulating their policies on immigration and other key issues, ensuring their campaign machinery is fully mobilised for the next general election.
In summary, while Sinn Féin’s recent performance may be disappointing relative to expectations, it is far from catastrophic.
With strategic adjustments and effective communication, Sinn Féin can strengthen its position and demonstrate resilience in the upcoming general election.